By Eric Stock
BLOOMINGTON – Gov. Bruce Rauner wants AFSCME, the state’s largest employee union, to agree to many of the same concessions that are included in the state’s tentative contract with several Teamsters union units.
The agreements call for a four-year wage freeze, no overtime pay until reaching a 40-hour work week rather than the current 37.5 hours, plus lower payouts for unused vacation days.
PODCAST: Listen to Scott and Colleen’s interview with Brady on WJBC.
State Sen. Bill Brady told WJBC’s Scott Laughlin there likely won’t be a union deal unless AFSCME budges.
“We just at this point in time can’t afford raises,” Brady said. “We care deeply about our state employees and we care about the work they do for the people but what they are negotiating for now is unrealistic in terms of Illinois’ finances.”
The governor also wants state workers to pay more for their own health care.
Illinois House Democrats and union leaders tried unsuccessfully last week to override Rauner’s veto of a bill that would ban the governor from locking out workers and would ban state employee unions from striking. Brady said even though that measure failed, the governor is still negotiating in good faith.
“Evidence exists in the fact that Rauner and negotiators have negotiated a reasonable, acceptable Teamsters contract,” Brady said.
Brady said AFCSME should agree to the same concessions.
“It’s not fair, I don’t think, to pay one union more money than another because they came to the table later,” Brady said.
AFSCME represents about 38,000 state workers.
Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].
